"I am so thankful for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play at UCLA and will always be proud to be a Bruin," the Pac-12 Co-Freshman of the Year said in a statement through the school. "From a young age, I have dreamed of playing in the NBA, and I believe that this is the right time for me to move to the next level."

The announcement came more than a month after former head coach Ben Howland said he fully expected the freshman, once ranked the No. 1 recruit in the country, to go pro after one season.

"That was his last game at Pauley Pavilion, no doubt about it," Howland said March 2 after a 74-69 win over Arizona. Howland was fired on March 24, two days after the Bruins lost to Minnesota in the NCAA tournament's round of 64.

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Muhammad - whose stock has slipped over the past several months - is projected to go in the top 10 of the June 27 draft, ending a scrutinized one-and-done campaign that began with a three-game NCAA suspension for $1,600 in impermissible benefits. Throughout the winter, he was criticized for everything from wearing a Gucci backpack to not celebrating teammate Larry Drew II's buzzer-beating game-winner against Washington.

A Los Angeles Times report also revealed that his father, Ron Holmes, falsified Muhammad's year of birth to 1993 instead of 1992 - though when or why that happened wasn't clear. Playing against younger opponents through his youth may have given him a competitive edge.

The 6-foot-6 Muhammad led the Bruins (25-10) with 17.9 points per game, standing out primarily due to his offensive motor. When judged against the hype he generated at Las Vegas' Bishop Gorman High, however, he didn't have a superlative season. Muhammad was defensively ambivalent at times and showed little playmaking instinct as he averaged 0.8 assists.

Nonetheless, his talents helped UCLA to a Pac-12 regular-season title. The Bruins lost to Oregon in the conference tournament final before being blown out by the Gophers, 83-63, in their NCAA tournament opener.

"I have had an unbelievable experience at UCLA and am eternally grateful to my teammates, my coaches and the program's support staff for helping me become a better person and basketball player during my time in Westwood," Muhammad said. "It has been an honor and a privilege to play for coach Ben Howland."

Losing an All-Pac-12 first-team selection won't necessarily be a death blow to the Bruins, who should still be in contention for a conference title. New head coach Steve Alford - hired from New Mexico - has a talented nucleus to work with, including point forward Kyle Anderson and shooting guard Jordan Adams.

Adams averaged 15.3 points before breaking his foot in the Pac-12 tournament semifinal against Arizona - a game in which he erupted for 24. Anderson is one of the conference's most versatile players, a gifted passer who also grabbed 8.6 rebounds per game.